Ladle-handling mechanism



y 6, 1950 H. G. WELLMAN 2,507,583

LADLE-HANDLINQ MECHANISM Filed March 30, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HOLLEIY G. WELLMAN H. G. WELLMAN 2,507,583

LADLE-HANDLING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllLllllxlllllllllll||Ill I: ||l||||| May 16, 1950 Filed March 30, 1948 ATTORNEY ILL 'L '1 FIG.3

0 0: e3 n am @Q a 4 ed @16 May 16, 1950 H. G. WELLMAN LADLE-HANDLING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 30, 1948 IN VEN TOR. HoLLEY GJWELLMAN May 16, 1950 H. G. WELLMAN LADLE-HANDLING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 30, 1948 INVENTOR.

N w MW ET w m m a L L Hw Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES LADLE -HANDLING EMECH- ANISM.

Holley G. Wellman, (ilevelanmflhio ApplicationzMarch 30, 1948;;SeriabNo. 17,;895

6 Claims. 1

The invention relates: to handling mechanism, iand particularly to mechanism-10f the character adaptable for transporting manipulating, and tilting containers for a molten metal, for instance,,.magnesium. The. invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and hereinafter described as applied to ladle-handling mechanism. The invention particularly important as applied to the handling of ladles of molten vmagnesium :since .thisiseanl exceptionally difficult .iproduct .to-handle-safely. .The invention is designed; to-efiect .its various: transporting and .maqnipulative functions speedily {and without presenting much opportunity ifor spilling the molten "metal dueto faulty structure-or functioning of .themechanism or'due -to carelessness of them)- erators.

Theannexed drawingssand the. following deiscriptionset forthin detail certain means illustrating my improvements .in ladle-handling mechanism, .the same .presenting, however, only one of the various forms in which the principle of thezinvention may be embodied.

Insaid annexeddr-awings:

Figurel is a-side elevation of an automotive truck carrying means forming the ladle-handling :mecha-nism, aladle :mountedv'in the mechanism :heing shown, and an elevated position of the ladle beingzalso shown inidot-v-and-dash lines;

Figure-2 is a plan view of'the structure shown :-in Figure 1;

Figure 3::is a front elevation, upon an enlarged s-scale, certainparts of 'the'handlingmechanism and a ladle handled thereby being-also shown in dot-and-dash outline in ladle-pouring position;

Figure-4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken vin theplanes indicated-by-,theline=44, Figure 3, Jalaterally-shifted position of the ladle being also :shown in dot-and-dash outline;

Figure-5 is-a -iragmentar-y horizontal section i-takenin-the plane indicatedby the line 5-5, Figure 4;

Figure dis a vertical transverse section taken in theplane indicated; by the line-B6,Figure 4 and;

'Figure 7 is a longitudinalhorizontal section takenin the plane indicated-by the line Figure 6.

Referring to the annexed drawings in which the same partsiarexindicated by the same respective'numbers-intheseveral'views a pair of opposed. side channels Zareerected on a base l se- "cured .to andradjacentzthezfront ofia truck body 1, which channels 2 are braced. and .securedtogether vdent that .actuation- .oi the "piston 9 willeresult in erected onthe base adjacent the .front. of the truck body I betweenrthelchannels 2 is a cylinder engaged by apiston Sactualted b'yrany suitable means, pneumatic .orhydraulic (not shown). Mounted on the tQD-of the -pi'ston9flis-across-head I having end trunnions .6' upon which a pair of sprockets 3 are rotatably ;mount e d. .These vSlc mckets ,3..are respectivelyteng-aged by chains 4 whichare coupled atoneend to upright rods [0 bolted at their lower ends to and erected .upon thebase I ,theopposite endsrof the chains l being secured to a casting l3comprised of front upper and lower-cross members 13 and M' and .rearwardly-iextended vspaced in lined verti a 1 plates or wings 13 Rotatably'mounted on and exteriorly of the plates,l'3 are,two .pairs'of upper and lower rollers. whicheng'age the opposed sidearms'of the channelsl; .thelatter thus form- .ingtracksior runwaysior the rollers ll.

Fromthe descriptionithus far given, it is evivertical movements of the chains land, hence, of thelcasting l3.

Bolted to the frontffacesloflthe cross members l'3 'and 1.4 is ahousing 1115; within which 'islrotatably mounted on taperflhe'arings l'5 a'drum IE to the forwardfaceof which-is secureda forwardlytapered. vaned headQiB secured to opposed interiorlyr disposed elongated horizontal channels ll, Figures .5, iand fi. The channels I extend at their forwarden'ds to the plane of the forward ends of the vanesrlfl woffthehhead l8 and .at their rear ends abut aplate 23Iwhich is slightly spaced from thefront iacesaof thecross members l3 and I 4 vand which v serves \as the rear end of V the drum l6 towhich it isbolted. LA'rearend plug. I1

isvsecuredto the tworchannelsfll and this end plug I1 isalsoboltedlto the plate I23. The rear end of 'alcylinder [9,disposed between the channels ll, is pivoted.to thefrontface of the plug Il the cylinder l9 having a forwardly-extended piston 20, the extreme forward end of which is pivotally securedto a cross rib '22 of a box-like "frame 22 which at its forward end has a head 2'4 fldjacent theiratop endsby cross-member 2 .Also l-u tracks or runways for thefrollers 28,1whereby, upon 3 actuation of the piston 20, the frame 22 is caused to move forwardly or rearwardly and, thus, to move the ladle 26 forwardly or rearwardly as 11- lustrated in Figure 4. The piston is actuated by any suitable means, pneumatic or hydraulic (not shown).

Secured to the forward end of the drum I6 is an annulus 30 having a laterally-extended eccentric arm 30 the outer end of which is pivotally mounted on a block 3|. Pivotally secured to the top and bottom of the block 3| are the respective ends of a chain 32 which engages a sprocket 34 rotatably mounted upon a bracket 33 bolted to and adajcent the top of one of the upright channels 2. The chain 32 also engages the sprockets of a combination brake and end-sprocket assembly 35 secured to a second bracket 33 and carried by the channel 2 adjacent its lower end. The brake portion of the assembly 35 provides means whereby the chain 32 can be restrained from moving when the drum I6 is lifted by the chains 4 and, consequently, any movement of the drum vertically will cause a horizontal rectilinear movement of the block 3| and push or pull the chain 32 outwardly 0r inwardly, as indicated in the showing thereof in Figure 3, whereby any burden secured to the rotatable drum IE, to which the annulus 30 is bolted, will be tipped as illustrated in Figure 3 by the pouring position of the ladle 26.

The operation of the aforedescribed mechanism is as follows:

Adjacent the furnace where the metal is melted the ladle 26 is manipulated by means Well known to those skilled in the art, usually by means of a carrying rod passed through the laterally-extended opposed upper brackets or ears with which the ladle is provided, to receive its burden of the molten mass from the furnace, and then the ladle is lowered into the strap 25 which is secured to the frame 22. By means of the cylinder 1, piston 9, and chains 4, the casting I3 and, hence, the loaded ladle 26 is lifted to any height suitable for the transportation thereof to the casting floor, the chain 32 idling. By means of the truck I the loaded ladle 2S is transported to the casting floor and, at any suitable height for the purpose, is pulled inwardly toward the truck l by means of the cylinder l9, piston 29, and frame 22. Then, according to the conditions of the foundry floor and the pouring platform, the ladle 26 is brought to the proper height and, then, the brake of the assembly 35 applied so as to stop the movement of the chain 32, when the continued movement of the piston 9 will effect a turning movement of the drum is which is communicated to the frame 22 and, hence, to the ladle 26 to effect pouring therefrom into the mold, as indicated in dotand-dash lines in Figure 3. This procedure is merely illustrative, inasmuch as probably it would be advisable also to pull the ladle 26 in toward the handling mechanism before transporting the ladle to the casting floor and, also, traveling and floor conditions, heights of platforms, etc., will dictate the proper sequence of operations.

What I claim is:

1. An automotive-truclbsupported mechanism for manipulating a burden carrier comprising a support secured to the truck body and provided with a runway, a carriage movable on the runway, means for reciprocating the carriage, a drum rotatably supported by the carriage, a sliding frame securable at its outer end to a burden carrier, the drum being provided with an interior runway engaged by the frame, means for moving the frame outwardly and inwardly of the drum comprising a cylinder pivotally secured to and within the drum and a plunger pivotally secured to the frame, means for reciprocating the plunger, an arm eccentrically secured to the drum, and a manually-operable control member mounted on the support for selectively regulating the turning movements of the arm.

2. An automotive-truck-supported mechanism for manipulating a burden carrier comprising a support secured to the truck body and provided with a runway, a carriage movable on the runway, means for reciprocating the carriage, a drum rotatably supported by the carriage, an elongated housing secured to and within the drum, a frame provided with wheels and securable at its outer end to a burden carrier, the housing being formed with a runway for the frame wheels, means for moving a burden carrier outwardly and inwardly of the housing comprising an extensible member within the frame and pivotally secured to the drum and the frame, respectively, means for effecting the extensible action, an arm eccentrically secured to the drum, a chain secured at its respective ends to opposed sides of the arm, a sprocket for the chain mounted on the support, and a manually-operable control member for the chain movements selectively regulating the turning movements of the arm.

3. An automotive-truck-supported mechanism for manipulating a burden carrier comprising a support secured to the truck body and provided with a runway, a wheeled carriage movable on the runway, a cylinder and reciprocating plunger means for moving the carriage, a housing secured to the carriage, a drum rotatably-mounted within the housing and having a hooded cap open-ended portion extended outwardly of the housing, a frame secured at one end to the drum and extended at its opposite end substantially flush with the open end of the hooded cap, a member for moving a burden carrier outwardly and inwardly of the frame and provided with wheels for which the frame provides a runway, and extensible means for moving the member comprising a cylinder pivotally secured to the frame and a plunger pivotally secured to the member, an arm eccentrically secured to the drum exteriorly of the housing, a chain secured at its respective ends to opposed sides of the arm, sprockets for the chain mounted on the support, one of said sprockets being formed with a brake control member whereby the turning movements of the arm can be selectively regulated.

4. In an automotive-truck-supported mechanism for manipulating a burden carrier, a subcombination for vertically moving and rotating the carrier comprising a support secured to the truck body and provided with a pair of spaced runways, a casting provided with wheels engaging the respective runways, a cylinder mounted on the support, a plunger for the cylinder formed with a cross-head provided with spaced sprockets, rods erected on the support, chains engaging the sprockets and secured at their respective ends to the casting and the respective rods, a housing secured to the casting, a drum rotatably mounted within the housing, a connecting frame pivotally secured to the drum and to the burden carrier, and means for rotating the drum.

5. In an automotive-truck-supported mechanism for manipulating a burden carrier, a subcombination for rotating the burden carrier and tilting the same into selective tilting position comprising a support secured to the truck body.

drum-mounting means secured to the support, a drum rotatably mounted in the mounting means, means for rotating the drum, an arm eccentrically secured to the drum, means for supporting the burden carrier from the drum, a chain secured at its respective ends to opposed sides of the arm, and sprockets for the chain mounted on the support, one of said sprockets being formed with a brake control member whereby the turning movements of the arm can be selectively regulated.

6. In an automotive-truck-supported mechanism for manipulating a burden carrier having a support, and a rotatable drum mounted thereon, a sub-combination for varying the distance at which the burden carrier is positioned from the support comprising an extended forwardly-projected hood for the drum, a housing secured to the drum and hood, extended through and interiorly of the drum, and disposed substantially flush at its outer end with the forward end of the drum hood, the hood and housing being formed with registering end openings, a frame REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 446,526 Kennedy Feb. 17, 1891 1,553,334 Sklovsky Sept. 15, 1925 1,794,826 Bennington Mar. 3, 1931 2,335,572 Schroeder Nov. 30, 1943 2,411,263 Guerin et a1 Nov. 19, 1946 2,413,661 Stokes Dec. 31, 1946 

